“About 3 percent to 5 percent of all pregnant women in the U.S. are diagnosed with gestational diabetes.” Pg.4
“Gestational diabetes is the result of some hormonal changes that occur in all women during pregnancy. Increased levels of certain hormones made in the placenta (the organ that connects the baby by the umbilical cord to the uterus and transfers nutrients from the mother to the baby) interfere with the ability of insulin to manage glucose. This condition is called "insulin resistance." As the placenta grows larger during pregnancy, it produces more hormones and increases this insulin resistance.” Pg.4
“Usually the mother’s pancreas is able to produce more insulin (about three times the normal amount) to overcome the insulin resistance. If, however, the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to overcome the effect of the increased hormones during pregnancy, sugar levels will rise, resulting in gestational diabetes.” Pg.4
“These factors increase your risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy: being overweight prior to becoming pregnant (if you are 20% or more over your ideal body weight), family history of diabetes (if your parents or siblings have diabetes), being over age 25, previously giving birth to a baby over 9 pounds, previously giving birth to a stillborn baby, or having gestational diabetes with a previous pregnancy.” Pg.4
“Keep in mind that half of women who develop gestational diabetes have no known risk factors.” Pg.4
"Gestational Diabetes." Cleveland Clinic. Social Media, 24 Oct. 2007. Web. 30 Aug. 2010. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/diabetes_gestational/hic_gestational_diabetes.aspx.